brolic84's Profile
- Daniel
- 1977
- 2005
- Brooklyn
- Bedford Stuyvesant
- House
- personal trainer
- Male
- 30
Author's Posts
January 25, 2008
In Need of Intercom Repair
I have a 3 family intercom system that hasn't worked in months. anyone have any info for any quality intercom companies to fix?
January 22, 2008
Stoop Repair Estimate
I have a brownstone stoop that is in need of serious repair. The stairs are leaning to one side, the exterior brownstone on the steps is cracked and crumbling, and the exterior wall on one side is coming off. Not to mention the cement floor under the stoop is caved in, yes a real nightmare! I just got a quote from a contractor whos work if seen before of $12000 to redo the entire stoop with 2 layers of brownstone, leveling of stairs, repack the sand/dirt underneath and recement. Does that price seem reasonable? I wasnt sure, but it seemed fair
November 21, 2007
Shady Inspectors
I'm an owner of a 3 family in Bed Stuy and my top floor tenants notified me that someone came to the house representing themself as an agent of some city child protective service. When the tenant let the rep in to "inspect" their newborns crib and sleeping arrangement, the rep switched and began inspecting their window guards and noting that there was some construction being done on my botttom floor, for which i didnt pull permits. A month later, i get a notice from the city saying i had 5 days to get my window guards installed properly. Two days ago, my calls me to say that the same rep calls her on her cell saying that they are outside and want to inspect the window guards, and if they dont get in that they will keep calling her. i called them yesterday posing as my tenants husband to ask them to stop harrassing my wife and that our window guards were in. they told me that i was breaking the law and that if i don't allow them access, they would fine me. Other than a court order, is there a law that forces the city access to a home? As the owner, even though my window guards are in, i dont want any city people snooping around looking for anything unless its the law. Does any know my rights?
Author's Comments
OP here:
when i first bought the building, my tenants upstairs said that it would work off and on, then they would just here muffled noise from time to time. While i was doing construction downstairs, it seems like the workmen damaged something with the wires in my duplex. At this moment, the entire system doesnt respond
Posted by: brolic84 at January 25, 2008 8:25 PM in response to In Need of Intercom Repair
If I were you,(and i am a landlord), I would compare my unit to other units of the same size. Based on comparables in the neighborhood, i would now have an idea of what i could get considering my competition. Seems like your unit is going to be the top of the scale in price range, and i'm sure other apartments don't look as luxurious as yours. I dont know much about rents in that area, but i know $2975 puts you far beyond what people are willing to pay. I just hope you aren't strapped financially because of the reno and need close to $2975 to make your money back. I would slash that asking price drastically
Posted by: brolic84 at January 27, 2008 11:53 PM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
sound like you got ripped off. We've had similar outages and they were all from the street and the fault of Con Edison. you should always call con ed first to check if there is anything wrong on their end. we've lived in bed stuy for 2 years and it has happened 3 times. each time con ed comes out within a few hours and the problem is solved. we have never once paid. sorry to hear about you situation, at least now you know
Posted by: brolic84 at February 24, 2008 7:23 PM in response to Con Ed Fee?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Condo's in Crown Heights have paid tenants over $160K to move this year, so don't be too shy. You have great leverage here with both your landlord and the buyer, who can collaborate to sweeten a deal that clearly works for them so that it works better for you. In the Netherlands you get 6 months rent to move with - these are all choices that we make and here we're pretty tough on tenants when they're inconvenient. Good luck and hope you find a new home that you love.
Posted by: guest at December 13, 2007 7:46 AM in response to Can my landlord evict me?
I guessing the condo's paying $160K are to get rent controlled tenants out.
I wouildnt expect that kind of cash to get out of a lease 6 months early, especially if there is a sale clause as discussed above.
Posted by: guest at December 13, 2007 9:18 AM in response to Can my landlord evict me?
If the buyer is combining apartments, it will take them some time to draw up plans and get permits, longer if in a Landmark District. This will be longer than your lease goes. When we did this, it took almost a year. The buyer may not want the potential headaches of evicting you if you decide to stay past your lease, assuming that you will turn into a pain in the a**. You have some leverage (as long as the buyer doesn't discover you are a nice guy and will honor your lease). 2 months rent + brokers fee sound about right.
Posted by: guest at December 13, 2007 5:12 PM in response to Can my landlord evict me?
Agreed also that less is more on the ad. Shouting "luxury" and going on about the neighborhood are a turn off for me. I would also guess based on your assumption that people don't like your apartment because of the neighborhood you might be coming on too strong when showing the place.
Sometimes people just want to know what a neighborhood is like -- is mostly families, students, singles, etc. It's not always a coda for racism.
Posted by: cortnyc at January 27, 2008 11:57 PM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
The apartment looks great. If you base it on comparables and price it right, it should rent. If it doesn't, it's priced too high.
Posted by: guest at January 28, 2008 12:44 AM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
Gosh, I don't understand who would want to spend nearly $3K on rent and be in PLG. If you're interested in being a kind of urban pioneer in a "new" neighborhood, you either buy, or you can't afford $3K for rent; or you live in Park Slope and get that much, or a little less rental space.
Also, I don't love the light fixtures or sink, but what do I know?
Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 28, 2008 1:26 AM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
You "cannot take seriously" multiple comments that $3,000 is too high? Based on the fact that your neighbors are charging more? Guess what? Your apartment is not rented so you are asking too much. Tenants can pay $3,000 and live in Brooklyn Heights. Sure they will not have 2,000 square feet, but location is more important to most tenants.
You can certainly ignore what the posters here are saying, but why post? No one cares what your mortgage is. Maybe you paid too much for the house?
Posted by: guest at January 28, 2008 4:30 AM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
Um maybe the problem is not your pictures, your capital letters, your language in the ad, the color of your skin, the exclusive high end broker, or the fickle tenants. Maybe the problem is your rent is too high??!!
Posted by: guest at January 28, 2008 7:16 AM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
I've had apartments fully gut renovated in historic homes while my neighbors didn't touch a thing in 100 years. I figured this would allow me to get higher rent, attract more renters, and keep tenants longer. In the end, my neighbors always got higher rent, more renters and longers stays. Bottom line, they knew the business better, and understood what tenants wanted. In their case tenants wanted the old but still functional old world charm and an apartment with a soul. I provided a 'better' functional space, but was missing all the rest and in the end, 'working' is good enough for renters, it doesn't have to be new. You sound a lot like me 10 years ago, I've changed.
Posted by: guest at January 28, 2008 8:16 AM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
Do not even bother posting here. The OP disagrees with any comment that points the blame at her!
Posted by: guest at January 28, 2008 8:21 AM in response to WHY ISNT MY APARTMENT RENTED
Any new owner must honor your current lease until it expires. If you wanna be a nice person and help the seller(assuming you leaving makes or breaks his sale), offer him to pay your first and last months rent in your new place. any new owner does not want to have the building occupied and will usually require the seller to have the building vacated. Basically, the ball is in your court and the seller needs you. Dont let the seller make you feel obligated to move.
Posted by: brolic84 at December 12, 2007 1:58 PM in response to Can my landlord evict me?